Windsun Glory won her first start for new connections facing the Preferred distaffers at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday night (June 21).
Trained by Bill Budd and owned by Bruce Davy of Brockville, Ont., Windsun Glory made front early on, sprinting out from post seven into a :26.4 first quarter before Cousin Mary took over command, with even-money favourite Alexis Faith hot on her heels. The bettors' choice cleared before the :55 midway mark.
With Witch Dali on the move down the backside, driver Trevor Henry tipped Windsun Glory out from third and advanced first-up on Alexis Faith through three-quarters in 1:23.3. Windsun Glory swept by that rival down the stretch and went on to win in 1:50.3 by more than a length over the oncoming Witch Dali and American Sara, who edged out Alexis Faith for third money.
Windsun Glory, sent off at 7-1 odds, paid $17.40 to win. The six-year-old Mach Three-Windsun Princess mare is now four-for-seven this year having also won top level distaff events at Hoosier Park and The Meadows while racing previously for the Ron Burke stable. The victory in Friday's $30,000 feature was her 27th conquest and inflated her earnings to nearly $460,000.
Budd trainees swept the late (7-7) Daily Double, which was worth $145.30, as four-year-old pacing mare Sunday Afternoon ($5.30) and Phil Hudon went down the road in the curtain closer in a career-best clocking of 1:51.1 for owner Kelly Waxman.
The first two-year-old races of the season at Mohawk Park were won by pacing filly Temagami Seelster (Sunshine Beach-That Day) and pacing colt A Positive Hanover (Captaintreacherous-Always True).
Four-time Friday night winner Trevor Henry drove 4-1 third choice Temagami Seelster to a 1:55.2 career debut with a second-quarter move for trainer Wayne McGean, who shares ownership of the $35,000 London Selected Yearling Sale purchase with Sydney, Nova Scotia residents David Mercer and Joseph Lewis.
Despite mid-race interference by a jumpy race leader, favourite A Positive Hanover took over command and won his first race in 1:56.4 with Chris Christoforou aboard for trainer Blake MacIntosh. The Harrisburg Sale acquisition, who also sold for $35,000, is a half-brother to millionaire Dynamic Youth. MacIntosh co-owns the maiden-breaker with Steve Heimbecker of Conestogo, Ont., Touchstone Farms Inc. of Guelph, Ont., and Larry Denley of Oakville, Ont.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Mohawk Park.